Thematic History
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Shellharbour City Council Heritage Study Volume 2 Thematic History by Andrea Humphreys and Anna London November 2005 (Master Copy) CONTENTS Preface 1 13 Lest We Forget 54 Authorship 2 Private Atchison 55 Colonel Fuller 56 1 Tom Thumb-Foolery: The Exploration of the Illawarra 3 The Diggerʼs Gun 57 “Killer” Caldwell 58 2 The Most Beatuiful Wood 6 Defence Installations 58 3 From Forest to Farm 9 RSL Clubs 59 Large Estates and Small 11 14 Lending A Hand 60 The Osborne Family 14 Housing Commission 61 Tracks Through Shellharbour 15 Social And Welfare Groups 61 Rev. J.D. Lang & The Scottish Families 16 15 Municipal Moments 63 Caroline Chisholmʼs Great Experiment 16 16 Communication 66 4 King Mickey 19 Letters From Home 66 5 Up The Pass 22 Extra! Extra! Read All About It! 67 6 Milk Money 27 Radio Days 68 Co-Operative Marketing 29 17 Seaside Rendezvous 70 7 Sea Lanes 33 18 Modernisation 78 Shipwrecks 35 Electricity 80 8 Living and Learning 37 Water Supply 80 Public Schooling 39 Libraries 80 Denominational Schooling 40 9 Six Feet Under 41 A Final Word 82 10 From A Distant Land 43 Bibliography 83 11 A Village By The Sea 47 Endnotes 87 12 From Here to There 49 Appendix A - Shipwrecks 94 Bridges and Roads 49 Appendix B - Public & Denominational Schools 96 Road and Water Transport 50 Appendix C - Newspapers In & Around Shellharbour 98 Iron Rails 50 Up, Up And Away 52 Appendix D - National, State & Local Themes 100 PREFACE The writing of this history has been a collaborative effort involving the contributions of many people, young and old. When Anna and I were initially contracted to prepare this document, we intended to write in the accepted academic manner, with perhaps a little more colour. As the study progressed and we came to know the people of Shellharbour, it became apparent that such a history would not only be inadequate, it would be inappropriate. We were privileged to meet the custodians of legends and stories that had been passed from father to son, mother to daughter, through as many as 6 generations. We were also delighted to meet those who had lived through some of Shellharbour’s more interesting recent history and whose memories of the place when it was principally a family holiday destination, were vivid and inspiring. We came to understand that the history of Shellharbour belonged not to us academics, but to the community. Their story was bound up not only in the dusty volumes and papers of archives and libraries, but in the very fabric of life. Instead of telling a conventional story of the place, we resolved instead to tell the story of the people. The people who traversed the globe to settle here; the people who built the roads; the people who carved a niche in the smothering forests and created a community; the people who farmed the land and fed the colony; the people who lived, fell in love, raised their families and died in a place they called Shellharbour. This is their story. Andrea Humphreys November 2005 1 AUTHORSHIP This history was written principally by Andrea Humphreys and Anna London. However, it would not have been possible without the research assistance of community volunteers. We would therefore like to acknowledge the valuable contributions of the following people: John Bentley Ross Cook Kathleen Sunderland Noel Jones Margaret Keevers Saadia Rich Cr Michele Greig Cr Christine Jeffreys Cr Tim Hore Cr Tom Hawker We particularly wish to thank Kevin and Dorothy Gillis of the Tongarra Heritage Society Inc. Kevin and Dorothy not only made the Society’s archives available to us, but also contributed much of their own research and gave freely and generously of their time. Without their unparalleled knowledge of the district we would have missed important stories from the past and failed to identify relics from those stories in the field. Their enthusiasm and support for the study was greatly appreciated. We are also deeply indebted to the staff of Shellharbour City Council, whose advice, support and ongoing assitance made the study possible. In particular we wish to thank Leanne Knight, Kylie Fairhall and Jim Tremain whose active participation in the study and administrative assistance was greatly appreciated. Thank you also to Council’s Heritage Advisor, Sue Jackson. 2 1. TOM THUMB-FOOLERY: THE EXPLORATION OF THE ILLAWARRA In 1795, George Bass had recently completed a surgeon’s apprenticeship. Established by his mother as a village apothecary Between times, Flinders amused himself by playing the flute and in Lincolnshire, Bass looked forward to an uneventful life marked privately dosing himself with large quantities of mercury, in an effort only by the ailments of farmers. However, a passion for seafaring to cure his ongoing battle with gonorrhoea, (the result of a romantic inspired when a young boy could not be suppressed and he dalliance in Tahiti in 1791). Of the planned voyage itself, Flinders abandoned his shop, obtaining a commission as surgeon to the wrote: HMS Reliance. In addition to Captain Hunter, the Reliance carried a young midshipman by the name of Matthew Flinders, also from “Projects of this nature, when originating in the minds of young Lincolnshire and whose thirst for adventure was based on a men, are usually termed romantic; and so far from any good being clandestine reading of Robinson Crusoe beneath the bedcovers anticipated, even prudence and friendship join in discouraging, if not 4 at night. A combination of youthful vigour, determination and a in opposing them.” penchant for adventure bound the would-be explorers together and they became immediate friends.1 Flinders would later recount with Within two months of arriving in the Colony, Bass and Flinders, with fierce pleasure his first meeting with “... a man whose ardour for their crew of one (William Martin, the “loblolly boy”), set off in the discovery was not to be repressed by any obstacles nor deterred diminutive Tom Thumb5 on their first expedition to Botany Bay and by danger…” and regarded Bass with great fondness. Bass was a the Georges River. At eight feet in length, the Tom Thumb was only burly man with a predilection for crimped wigs; Flinders was slight two feet longer than Bass and had been purchased by Bass from and dark with a gentle countenance. Together, they were arresting the Deptford shipyards before leaving England. With this highly in their contrasts and the duo cut a dashing picture. unsuitable vessel the pair intended to pass through the Sydney Heads into the Pacific Ocean, then on to Botany Bay to chart the At this time much of the east coast of New South Wales was Georges River.6 Despite being ridiculously overburdened, the trio uncharted (with the exception of a few rough and highly inaccurate explored 20 miles further up the river than any European before maps) and although investigative trips had been as far south them and paved the way for settlement at Banks Town as a result. as Jervis Bay and north to Port Stephens, the intricacies of the intervening areas remained largely unknown.2 The energetic Bass The fruits of their initial endeavour made embarkation for their and Flinders were determined to rectify this malady and the pair second trip much easier. Bass and Flinders set off on 25 March whiled away the tedium of their Antipodean ocean voyage dreaming 1796 to explore a large river said to fall into the sea some miles of exploratory escapades: south of Botany Bay.7 This time they sailed in the Tom Thumb II, a “... with this friend a determination was formed of completing vessel hardly superior to the original, which they boldly took straight the examination of the east coast of New South Wales, by all such out to sea “... to be ready for the sea breeze.”8 opportunities as the duty of the ship and procurable means could admit.”3 Matthew Flinders, March 1796 3 Searching for the Hacking River and caught in the grip of an their guides were more likely to roast them slowly over an open fire unforseen current, the explorers overshot their mark somewhat than lead them to water. With no choice but to follow, they became and ended up near Wollongong. Not at all flummoxed, the party ever more wary. The explorers were sure they were being led to headed for some small islands further south in the hope of finding the entrance of Lake Illawarra with menacing intent; coupled with potable water. As Bass swam ashore, (fully dressed as only a 19th the shallowness of the water at the lake entrance and the growing century Englishman would), with cask in hand, the Tom Thumb II number of Aboriginal men walking along the shore, they lamented was caught by a rogue wave and dumped on the beach, wetting their waterlogged weapons. The explorers knew that turning north supplies, equipment and explorers alike. Water was not found, but without fresh water could lead to mission failure, so thirst overcame two Aboriginal men they had exchanged food with earlier at Red fear and they waded ashore to refill their water casks, clean their Point told the party that fresh water could be obtained a few miles guns and repair their damaged oar.10 further on. Guided by these two men the exploration party travelled further south in a by now desperate quest for fresh water.9 The relief granted by fresh water was negated by an ever increasing As adventurous as the Lincolnshire duo were, they were nonetheless hoard watching their every move. Panicking, the men wanted to young and slightly naïve.